Cochin Thread!!!

[CochinBrahmaLover]

They're still awfully young but right now both look like pullets

watch out for redder combs, thats the main sign of a roo

 

[mendocinosunris]

Okay, I'll keep a lookout for that. Thanks!

 

[ki4got]

Boys or girls???
This is the first time I've raised cochins, & I'm not sure if my guesses are correct. I'm thinking the barred one is a roo & the white is a pullet. Am I correct?
They're a little over 4 weeks old.

by 4 weeks any roos would have redder, larger combs and wattles starting to develop. i'd say both pullets.

here was my calico and silver laced at right at 4 weeks old... the differences are quite noticable if you have others of the same breed to compare.



here's the same two last week...

 

[mendocinosunris]

Thanks, K -
it really helps to have a comparison.
It's surprising to me how differently the Cochins are developing compared to my other breeds. I had read that they're slow to mature, but wow.
I have a barred rock that is the exact same age as these two, and it's now twice their size & almost fully feathered.
They're perfectly healthy, just slow growing.
And their Cochin personality is really shining through. What little characters they are! And the fuzzy feet are just too awesome.

btw - your birds are absolutely beautiful. I love the colors.

 

[Mr. Ree]

Very nice set up. I have something in the planning stages similar to yours. I have a few questions.
How much gap will you have between the floor pens on the left and the pens you install above them?
Under the cages to the right...of what material is the droppings tray made?

Edit to add.Not only are your birds gorgeous, but I'm jealous you are so far along on your pen project!

Thanks everyone for the compliments, it is very much appreciated. As I said, its not done but its getting there. And Nana, to answer your questions:
1- I will leave a 2 inch gap between the pens. This leaves me enough room for a droppings tray and a little room left over.
2- I used 3/8 presswood from the local building supply store and cut it down to fit where needed. It helps me have room on top of room, which is great for me. It wont sacrafice floor space and you can always add on above what is existing. I have the pens to the left built on the floor for broody hens and chicks that dont need to be under lights any longer. And just as extra pens if need be.

This is the main building for my coop, its insulated in all the walls and ceiling, has triple layed floors, and wire in the windows so I can open them at night without predators getting in. This is primarily the winter/brooder house. In the winter I put everyone in this coop so I dont have any birds to freeze to death. In the summer I put all birds that can handle the weather outside, and use the coop as a hatching/brooder building. I plan to add another coop and some fencing aroud the two for an outside pen that juvenile birds can be let into when weather permits. Again, thanks guys for the compliments about the coop/setup, and my birds.

And to answer the frizzle question; frizzle isnt just a variety of Cochin, it is more or less a breed of a breed, its a variety of feathering and can occure in any breed, even Silkies. So any breed can be frizzled, but the bird should look exactly like the breed represented, with the exception of the feathering.


~Casey

 

[Sweetfolly]

Thanks everyone for the compliments, it is very much appreciated. As I said, its not done but its getting there. And Nana, to answer your questions:
1- I will leave a 2 inch gap between the pens. This leaves me enough room for a droppings tray and a little room left over.
2- I used 3/8 presswood from the local building supply store and cut it down to fit where needed. It helps me have room on top of room, which is great for me. It wont sacrafice floor space and you can always add on above what is existing. I have the pens to the left built on the floor for broody hens and chicks that dont need to be under lights any longer. And just as extra pens if need be.

This is the main building for my coop, its insulated in all the walls and ceiling, has triple layed floors, and wire in the windows so I can open them at night without predators getting in. This is primarily the winter/brooder house. In the winter I put everyone in this coop so I dont have any birds to freeze to death. In the summer I put all birds that can handle the weather outside, and use the coop as a hatching/brooder building. I plan to add another coop and some fencing aroud the two for an outside pen that juvenile birds can be let into when weather permits. Again, thanks guys for the compliments about the coop/setup, and my birds.

~Casey

I'm a little late on this, but nice set-up!

We have an old poultry barn from the 1930's on our new property that we'll be restoring (painstakingly - it's a beautiful building, but part of the roof is caved in at the moment!) and setting up something somewhat similar...

 

[wildwoodcochins]

When I first started out with my cochins; I built a nice 6 pen/stall coop. I thought this would be sufficient.....wrong! I ended up taking over the garden tool shed too. I started out last year with 6 pens about 3' x 3', this year I added 3 3' x 3' pens, 2 double 6' x 3' pens and a brooder box 3' x 6'
All these new pens are for my babies and young started birds coming up. It is so nice to have a place for everyone without little cages stacked everywhere.
I built all the new cages this year with hardware cloth to keep any rodents etc out. I still need to change out the wire on the cages I built last year. I am also going to add a sky light to add extra light~
Not very good pictures...

 

[wildwoodcochins]

Where can I find information on upcoming shows in my area? I thought there was a show in Bloomington, IN coming up in April but can't find any information on it~


EDIT

Found info on CI....so...next question..who's going to Bloomington next month??

 

[WestKnollAmy]

When I first started out with my cochins; I built a nice 6 pen/stall coop. I thought this would be sufficient.....wrong! I ended up taking over the garden tool shed too. I started out last year with 6 pens about 3' x 3', this year I added 3 3' x 3' pens, 2 double 6' x 3' pens and a brooder box 3' x 6'
All these new pens are for my babies and young started birds coming up. It is so nice to have a place for everyone without little cages stacked everywhere.
I built all the new cages this year with hardware cloth to keep any rodents etc out. I still need to change out the wire on the cages I built last year. I am also going to add a sky light to add extra light~
Not very good pictures...

LOVE IT!

 

[lilcrow]

WOW!!!! This is a fantastic set up. Did you make it, buy it, or where did it come from?

I made this one a few years ago. Cages are 24" x 24" x24" and the birds are on 1" x 1" pvc coated wire. Works well, has clean out drawers.